EU Health Initiative Risks Falling Behind on Metabolic Health

As the EU’s flagship Healthier Together – Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) initiative enters its final two years, health experts are raising concerns that the program may not keep pace with the latest science on metabolic health. it’s a critical issue as Europe faces a growing burden of these diseases.

The 2022-2027 framework supports member States in addressing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, mental health, and key lifestyle factors. However, it doesn’t specifically address liver disease, despite its strong connection to obesity and type 2 diabetes. This omission is a significant oversight, experts say.

During a recent policy discussion, “NCDs, obesity and liver health – can the EU turn the tide?“, several specialists highlighted this as a structural weakness in the EU’s NCD approach. They believe a more comprehensive strategy is needed.

Cyrielle Caussy, a professor of medicine in nutrition at Lyon 1 University, warned that ignoring liver health means missing a central player in Europe’s metabolic epidemic. The liver, she explained, is “upstream” of many major non-communicable diseases.

“the liver is currently the blind spot,” Caussy stated. “We don’t really see liver health on the agenda. Yet, we certainly know it’s a key organ involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and energy regulation.It’s directly linked to all these non-communicable diseases.”

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) affects an estimated four in ten adults globally, but experts emphasize it remains largely invisible in EU strategies, including Healthier Together. This lack of attention is concerning given the disease’s prevalence.

Obesity is More Than Just Weight

Speakers at the discussion argued that a key reason liver disease is overlooked is a persistent misunderstanding of obesity itself. It’s not simply about a number on the scale.

“There’s still a lot of misunderstanding about what obesity is,” said Dra Andreea Ciudin Mihai, Endocrinologist, Obesity Specialist, Associate Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Vall d’Hebron Hospital & Member, Executive Board at the European Association for the study of Obesity (EASO).

“Obesity isn’t a disease based on weight kilograms; it’s an a